Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Local plumber company wanted $810 to change out a garbage disposal. Base model. I said no of course and had it done $175 including a better unit. It took 15 minutes. Of course all the old ladies living alone make up the bulk of their business.

Power liftgate...Seems like a trouble prone gimmick but cool at the same time.

To each his/her own. My only point was all of these "extras" that we have managed to survive without are blowing prices through the roofs. Some people are buying cars they can't afford just to be ahead of the curve.

It was actually the top of the list. FJ Cruisers are worth approximately 65% of their original value after 5 years. I was shocked at that too as I never thought they were anything special. Mega-Gigantic Blind Spots indeed.

Exactly- I don't need a four door, and the JKR is even shorter and more off-road capable than my TJ.

A few years ago my wife hinted that we really didn't need the Wrangler and that we should probably sell it. That winter we had a storm that dropped almost 5" of snow and 1" of ice , dropping fifteen or so trees across the road to our house. Thanks to the Lord and Jeep engineers we were able to bypass all but two of the trees by cutting across a snowy/icy/muddy cornfield in my trusty TJ. Our power was off for over fourteen hours so the Jeep allowed us to reach civilization and obtain hot coffee and Mexican food for lunch. After that my beautiful bride never again suggested selling the Wrangler...

Already done to some extent. Original tires weren't good enough so they were upgraded at great expense. HID headlights...not Mickey Mouse either...high intensity fogs that are so bright I can't believe them.

I was reading a long term test of a new CRV (here on Edmunds, I think ?), and they referred to the CRV as a "gutless wonder". Mind you, I haven't driven one myself, so I would not offer a personal opinion.

On the subject of pricing for an Escape, I purchased a 2005 Mazda Tribute (which is an Escape, for those who don't know) brand new for $14,995. This didn't have leather seats or sunroof, but it did have the V6 engine, automatic transmission, nice wheels, A/C, power windows and locks -- everything I really need. Amazing to read of $38k prices these days. Of course, the Explorer's run well up into the $40's, and I remember clearly Explorers being cheap vehicles. Maybe I'm just too old...

That said, just talking to people who own them, Hondas seem to have some of the most loyal buyers....repeat buyers, I've ever run across.

I have a business colleague who has an Accord (not sure of the year, but it's at least 14-15 years old) that he refuses to get rid of, even though he doesn't need it. I know it's either approaching 200K miles, or has surpassed it, he drives on occasion (usually to pick me up at the airport). He has another Accord, probably 3-4 years old he drives regularly. And, he just bought his wife one of the newer ones with the slick headlights. His daughter has a Civic and his son has one of those old "Del Sols". He won't even wander past a different brands show room.

I have a pretty good idea of his annual salary. If I were a betting man, I'd say he could easily afford a Mercedes S Class or an Audi A7. He just LOVES his Hondas, though.

He thinks I'm from another planet with the variety of cars I've driven over the years.

Although Chevy has sold some 11,600 Volts this year, up 9.2% from 2012, apparently that volume isn't good enough as Chevy has slashed $5,000 off the sticker. With the $7,500 tax credit, that brings the Volt down to a net price of $27,495. Nice, but that enough to make Volt a best seller?

The problem with the Volt is not necessarily its high price but the paltry driving range of only 38 miles on battery power alone--that's no different from a typical hybrid. Such a result is not compelling enough to draw in buyers in the quantity to make this car a success.

Power liftgate...Seems like a trouble prone gimmick but cool at the same time."

Isell pretty much sums up my feelings. I had mentioned waiting to see if Honda adds "BLIS" on their next model update for the CRV to make it equivalent to the mid-trim Mazda CX5. Most of these new integrated systems like Sync seem to create too many sub-menus and other distractions for my taste. I do like having an ipod dock, but even the lousy interface on the Scion takes far too many adjustments--all of which takes the driver's eyes from the road.

I think it's fine for those who want it, though. I'm not bashing Ford for charging what the "market will bear", but I remember folks writing on this forum a couple of years ago who were horrified that the Rav4 had gotten to $30K. I have the unfortunate desire to want some of tomorrow's technology advances while paying yesterday's prices.

I just caught a radio program that was addressing the popularity of Jeeps and specifically the Wrangler despite it's fairly high cost. Although only something like 5% of owners actually take them off road owners like the idea that they could take it off road. The bottom line: Buyers just like Jeeps and like what they think owning a jeep says about them. Duh... couldn't the same observation be made of a number of cars, like, say, a Prius.

With the price cut, the Volt will be within $2K of the Prius Plug In. The article linked about also says the Volt is eligible for a $7500 rebate but the Prius only $2500 - IDK if that's correct but if it is, the Volt is now less expensive.

"I have a pretty good idea of his annual salary. If I were a betting man, I'd say he could easily afford a Mercedes S Class or an Audi A7. He just LOVES his Hondas, though."

GG--

Your friend sounds just like my father. He always had the cheapest car in the parking garage next to his employer. He's 84 now, retired and drives a 2000 Toyota Corolla. I would say he loves it, but he has no passion for automobiles and little incentive to move to something newer based on his current driving habits. Last year he and my mom replaced her aging 97 Accord after the brakes failed. It needed a brake master cylinder and maybe a few other brake related items that were easily fixable, especially for a car with under 50K! My mom had lost faith in it, though. Their replacement car was a new mid-line Camry (it had power seats, which was an amazing splurge). Of course, he would never visit a site like this in a million years. Given my upbringing I'm not sure why my two brothers and I are much more passionate about cars.

OK, guys, I'm back and with another story of woe but on the mend again. I'm not sure where I let off but here's where I've been. Just as the doc had set me up to every six week checkups I got exposed to Epstein Barr. My old immune system had this which it what caused all my autoimmune system issues earlier - inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, you name it. When I tell the doc on the phone that I had a swollen gland she told me to come up that day! Horrible trip up with traffic and didn't get to the hospital until 7 but doc and my nurse practitioner stayed and waited for me.

She ordered a PET scan of the lymph node involved and started a treatment assuming the least bad thing it could be which is is Epstein Barr lymphoma. Both the scan and the treatment were on different days so I've been up there a lot. Well the scan didn't look good to her so she ordered a biopsy which ended up not agreeing with the scan so they put me in for surgery (only my second ever, the first being to put in a port to save my poor veins) and grabbed the node. Indeed it came up with the least bad thing and treatment resumed - infusions that you just have to live with for a couple of hours.

The good new is that the Epstein Barr is gone. The bad new is they had to Kill all my B cells to do it. The new ones that grow will be free of the virus. I now now have a nice Frankenstein scar on my neck which they assure me will fade away and indeed looks better already.

The effect of my psyche is another story. Like with the first complication it sets healing way back. An expected one year recovery into two and put a llot of restrictions back. My brain is still reprogramming itself from the first complication which did cause a traumatic brain injury. It's really nuts.

That said the only two other people that had this transplant for this condition died which puts things in perspective. I will fully recover but it will take lots longer than anticipated.

I have just now graduated from having to go to ine Sloan location or another (the PET scan and and a couple of the weekly blood tests were done at their NJ facility) every week to twice every three weeks. Stay tuned.

That said, I feel fine. Just tired. Most my my counts are fantastic so once I have the B cells back and the T cells come up to a good level (which they only get when they do marrow tests that are no fun) they can start the end game which will result in me being considered fully recovered.

Onto a car related subject a friend I met at Hope Lodge is going to replace the brake pads on my Mazda and change the brake fluid. He may put in the low beam Nightbreakers that the mechanic was supposed to do but only did the high beams which are fantastic but the low beams are what I really need. Next thing you know I'll be asking for performance chips... He lives three hours away but even if all we were doing was having lunch together is worth the trip. His name is, appropriately, Angel.

on my Mazda and change the brake fluid. He may put in the low beam Nightbreakers

First thing, welcome back as usual and don't feel all alone out there. My doctor found, two months ago, that part of my tired and overweight problems are from diabetes. Now I have to shoot myself in the stomach once a week with bidureon and test glucose daily. Fortunately I run a 117 average so I'm not bad, but at least he didn't put me on heavy BP meds which I hate. He said I'd lose weight which I have. Now if I can cut down on the hot sauce I have a chance.

Second thing, what happened to the Solara? Mine had HID from the factory and it was a 2006 SLE. ps no tickets yet in the Mustang and still looking to trade for a F-150 Platinum. Dealer just ran a TV ad $10k off on leftover 2013s. Did they call me? No. They'll wait for the 2014s and tell me what a great deal MSRP is. Grrrr. I may have dough, but I didn't while growing up, that's the part dealers don't get.

oldfarmer, ever heard the southern expression "if you're scared...say you're scared" ?Well, I'm not scared of the car or my abilities to control the HP, but scared of what a 3 digit speeding ticket will get me. Here, over 80 can be reckless driving and not much over that is a night in the slammer which scares me.

Yahoo only goes back less than a day.I'd do a search on your name.Would have done that, but can't remember exactly what it is.I just saw your post about speeding in VA. My BIL got one there going 85.Pretty sure the fine was about a grand.